Vane positioning device



Feb. 2, 1960 J. E. TAYLOR VANE POSITIONING DEVICE Filed Jan. 20, 1956 LIUHN ETAYLUR M AW W Jig United States Patent O VANE POSITIONING DEVICE John E. Taylor, East Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to Thompson Ramo Wooldridge Inc., a corporation of Ohio Application January 20, 1956, Serial No. 560,303

6 Claims. (Cl. 230-114) This invention relates generally to compressors and the like, and more particularly to a device for adjusting the angular position of stator vanes in compressors and the like, although other uses and purposes may be apparent to one skilled in the art.

The present invention is primarily useful in axial-flow compressors and the like employed in jet engines or the like.

It is well known that the efiiciency of a compressor in a jet engine varies with the atmospheric conditions in which the compressor is operating. Thus, the problem arises as to providing a compressor or the like for a jet engine which is capable of being highly efficient under substantially any atmospheric condition.

The present invention solves this problem by providing a compressor or the like which mounts the stator vanes pivotally on the cylindrical casing or stator mounting ring, and provides means for controlling the angular position of the vanes to adjust the angle of attack of the compressor vanes, thereby increasing the efliciency of the compressor within greater operational ranges.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved compressor or the like that is capable of operating efliciently under various atmospheric conditions.

Another object of this invention is to provide a compressor or the like, wherein the stator vanes may be angularly adjusted to vary the angle of attack thereof.

Still another object of this invention resides in the provision of a compressor and the like having angularly adjustable stator vanes which enable the angle of attack of the vanes to be adjusted, thereby increasing the efficiency of the compressor.

A further object of this invention is to provide a compressor or the like having at least one radial row of stator vanes, wherein the vanes are pivotally mounted and the angular position of the vanes is simultaneously controlled by a single member.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed disclosure, taken in conjunction with the accompanying sheet of drawing, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary diagrammatic view of a jet engine or the like equipped with an axial-flow air compressor embodying the invention; Figure 2 is an enlarged view of a stator vane, with parts in elevation and in section, secured to a stator mounting ring or the cylindrical casing of a compressor, illustrating the principles of the invention;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view, taken substantially along line III-III of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view, partly in section, and in elevation, illustrating a certain detail of the invention; and

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view, illustrating the manner in which the cable is adjustably connected to the lug of a stator vane.

As shown on the drawings:

Referring to the drawing and especially to Figure 1, a jet engine 10 is diagrammatically illustrated having. a housing 11, an axial flow compressor 12, a plurality of combustion chambers 13 receiving the discharge of the compressor 12, an inlet 14 to the compressor, and a shaft 15 connected to the rotor 12a of the compressor and to a turbine (not shown). The rotor 12a is equipped with several rows of air-foil-shaped blades 16, and a stator mounting ring or cylindrical wall 17 carries several rows of airfoil-shaped vanes or blades 18 which are interposed between the rows of the rotating blades 16.

As the air flows through the rotating blades 16, its static pressure and kinetic energy are both increased. Each row of stator blades or vanes 18 acts both as ,a diffuser for converting the kinetic energy of the air leaving the preceding rotating row into pressure and as nozzles for guiding the air into the next row of rotating blades. 7

Referring now to Figures 2 and 3, a single vane 18 is shown as having a leading edge 18a and a trailingedge 1%. As noted, the leading edge is substantially thicker than the trailing edge, and each vane is airfoil-shaped or arcuately shaped along the longitudinal axis thereof as well as tapering toward the inner end. i

The vanes 18 extend radially from the mounting ring 17 and carry at the widest end or outer radial end a stud bolt 19. The stud bolt is, in this instance, positioned a little closer to the leading edge 18a of the vane. Receiving the stud bolt is an apertured. cylindrically stepped bearing member 20 which is received in a stepped counterbore 21 formed in the cylindrical wall 17. To provide a clearance between the outer end of the vane 18 and the cylindrical wall 17, a raised shoulder 22 is formed to seat the bearing member 20. On the outer surface of the wall 17 and concentric with the stepped counterbore 21 is an annular ridge 22a. A washer 23 is received over the end of the stud 19 and sized to seat on the annular ridge 22a. A nut 24 is threadedly received on the end of the stud 19 to bear against the washer 23 and hold the vane and bearing arrangement in pivotal relationship on the cylindrical wall 17. The nut and washer arrangement on the outer surface of the cylindri-- cal wall 17 is covered by a cylindrical cap or cover 25 flanged at one end and secured to the outer wall by a plurality of fasteners, such as indicated by the numeral 26. To adjust the angular position of the vanes 18, each vane is provided with a lug or upstanding member 27 attached to the vane adjacent the trailing end thereof and projecting outwardly through an arcuate slot 28 in the cylindrical wall or casing 17. The arcuate axis of the slot 28 is concentric with the pivot of the blade 18 or the stud 19. The lug 27 projects away from the outer surface of the casing 17 and is provided near its free end with an aperture 29 that extends transversely through the lug and is effectively countersunk at each open end thereof.

Received in the apertures 29 of the lugs 27, which are circumferentially aligned, is a control member 30, which encircles the cylindrical casing 17. The control member 30 is preferably a cable, but may be a solid ring, While the cable 30 is freely received in the lug apertures 29, a pair of ball members 31, 31 (Figures 4 and 5) are provided on the cable and on either side of the lug to adjustably attach the lug to the cable. Each ball member 31 is provided with a transverse bore 31a to receive the cable, and a set screw 31b threadedly received at a perpendicular to the bore 31a for locking the ball member 31 to the cable 30 at any desired point.

Inord'erto ke'ep'tlrecabl'e 30 taut'undervarious tern perature conditions, a plurality of circumferentially p e pr n so e oo ha pin p pr vide'd; Preferably; each'spn'ng is provided with a base securing portion 32a intimately engaging the outerjsurface ofthe cylindrical casing 17' and secured thereto by any suitable type of fastener 33, and an offset and outwardly spaced arcuate spring portion 32b. Onthe arcu-. ate portion 32b is carried an eyelet or the like 32;- for receiving the cable 30 and guiding it with respect to the spring 32.

Toadjust the angular position of the vanes 18 and change the angle of. attack thereof, an actuator 34 (only diagrammatically shown in Figure 3) of ,any suitable type i's provided at one point along the cable 30 to engage the cable and move the cable back and forth. The actuator arm attachment moves in an are identical to the are described by the tabs to which it is connected 'by means of the cable. The. actuator 34 may be electrically or mechanically controlled as desired in the particular installation. A channel cover member 35 flanged at one end encloses the cable and lug arrangement and is secured to the outer surface of the cylindrical casing 17 by suitable fasteners, such as stud bolts or the like 36. Of course, while the cover 35 encircles the cylindrical casing 17, itwill be composed of a pair ofsubstantially semicircula'r sections, sealed in such a manner as to prevent air leakage.

In operation, the angle'of attack of the vanes may be adjusted by operating the actuator 34. Where it may be desirable to provide a greater adjustment in another range of the position of the vanes, the lugs 27 attached to the vanes may be adjustably positioned along the cable 30 as desired, a

In view. of the foregoing, it is seen that the present invention provides a vane positioning device for compressors and the like for increasing the operational ef: ficiency under varying atmospheric conditions.

It willbe understood that modifications and variations maybe effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention, but it is understood that this application is tobe limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

claim as my invention:

1. In a; compressor or the like, a rotor having at least one. radial row of blades, a'cylindrical casing encircling said rotor, at least one radial row of stator vanes on said casing coacting withsaid rotor blades, each vanehaving the outer end pivotally secured to said casing, an arcuate slot in said casing spaced from each said vane pivot, a lug attached to the pivot end of each vane and projecting radially through the corresponding slot perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said rotor, a cable encircling saidcasing and adjustably connecting all of said lugs together, resilient means mounted on the casing slidably -receiving the, cable for maintaining tautness therein under all conditions, and means engaging said cable to move the same and thereby adjust the position of said vanes.

2. In a compressor or the like, a rotor having at least one radial row of blades, a cylindrical casing encircling said rotor, at least one radial row of stator vanes on said casing coacting with said rotor blades, each vane having the outer end pivotally secured to said casing, an arcuate slot in said casing spaced from each said vane pivot, a lug. attached to the pivot end of each vane and projecting through the corresponding slot, a cable encircling said casing and adjustably connecting all of said lugs together,

emanate resilient meansre'ceiving the cable for maintaining said cable taut under all temperature conditions, and a linear actuating means engaging said cable to adjust the position of said vanes.

3. In a compressor or the like, a rotor having at least one radial row of blades,.a cylindrical casing encircling said rotor, at least one radial row of stator vanes on said casing coacting with said rotor blades, each vane having the outer end pivotally secured to said casing, an arcuate 'slot' in said casing spaced from each said vane pivot, a lug attached to the pivot end of each vane and projecting through the corresponding slot, a cable encircling said casing and adjustably connecting all of said lugs together, a'plura'lity of springs circumferentially mounted on the outer side ofsaid casing, each spring having a means for slidably receiving and guiding said cable to maintain same taut under all conditions, and a linear actuating means engaging said cable to adjust the position of saidvane's.

'4. In a compressor or the like, a rotor having at least one radial row of blades, a cylindrical casing encircling said'rotor, at leaston'e radial row of stator vanes on said casing coacting with said'jrotor blades, each vane having the outer end pivotally'secured to saidcasing, an arcuate slot in said casing spaced from each said vane pivot, a lug attached to the pivot end of each vane and project ing through the corresponding slot, a cable encircling said casing, stop means on said cable adjacent said lugs for adjustably connectingeach lug to said cable, ap'lural ity of springs circumferentially mounted on the outer side of the casing, each spring having a means for slid ably receiving and guiding, said cable to maintain the same taut under all conditions, andactuating means en. gaging said cable to adjust the position ofsaid vane.

5. A vane positioning device for compressors or the a like having a rotor, a cylindrical casing, and a stator,

saidstator having a plurality of vanes, each vane being pivotally mounted on said casing, an. arcuate slotin said casing having'an axis concentric to each said vane pivot, a lug attached to each vane and projecting through the corresponding slot, each said lug being apertured and spaced from said vane pivot, a cable passing through each apertured lug and encircling said casing, ball means having a set screw for adjustably connecting eachwlug to said cable adjacent said lugs, means resiliently supported by the outer side of the casing receiving the cable and maintaining tautness therein under varying temperature conditions and a linear actuator connected to said cable for reciprocating same and adjusting the angle of attack of said vanes.

6. Means for adjusting the position of stator vanes pivotally supported by a compressor casing provided with an arcuate slot therein, comprising lug means on the pivot end of each vane receivedin the arcuate slot in the casing, cable means connecting all of said lug means together, spring means on the casing and having portions slidably receiving and guiding the cable means and maintaining tautness therein under varying temperature conditions, and actuating means connecting with the cable means to effect vane position adjustments.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES :PATENTS 2,435,091 Meyer Jan. 27, 1948' FOREIGN PATENTS 486,761 Canada Sept. 23, 1952 

